Pro-EU incumbent narrowly beats nationalist in Serb elections[fr][de] 

According to the state electoral commission, Democratic Party leader Tadic received 50.57% of the vote compared with 47.71% for the Serbian Radical Party leader and former ally of ex-President Slobodan Milosevic. 

The tight result and reports of spoiled ballots mean Nikolic's supporters could still challenge the result. 

The presidential run-off on 3 February was seen as a referendum on how Serbia should deal with Kosovo's increasingly imminent independence. 

While both presidential candidates opposed the split, Nikolic took a more radical stance, favouring closer ties with Russia (which so far has defended Serbian opposition to Kosovo's independence) over those with Europe. Tadic was seen as more liberal and pro-European. 

After the partial count was announced, he told supporters: "We want to go to Europe. We want to cooperate with the world." 

While Tadic's victory against the pro-Russian nationalist can be interpreted as a sign that Serbia is ready to put integration with the EU ahead of its anger with the West over its support for Kosovo's secession, the close result reveals how divided Serbs are on the issue. 

Many fear the result could put the country's ruling coalition on a collision course after Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, who also favours a more hardline approach on Kosovo, declared last week that he would not support Tadic's re-election. 

Analysts say the coalition could fall when Kosovo declares its independence, triggering a snap election. 

EU presidency holder Slovenia was quick to welcome Tadic's win and highlighted its ambition to accelerate the country's progress towards EU membership. "The Serbian people seem to have confirmed their support to the democratic and European course of their country," it declared.